but seriously, how do people lose one sock in the laundry?

Question

We’ve all had this occur multiple times in our lives: we do the laundry, one sock from the pair goes missing. We check the washer and the dryer, it’s nowhere to be found. It happens often enough to be a running cultural, universal joke. But it makes no sense. How does it happen?

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

Generally they work themselves in between the agitator and the inside of the tub. As it washes the clothes it tears the errands sock apart into lint and loose threads.